Plastic fan stand



Feb. 9, 1943, A, F FUKAL 2,310,772

' PLASTIC FAN STAND l Filed March 14, 1942 l 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1) EInventor @Horne-q Feb; 9, 1943i A. F. FUKAL 2,310,772

PLASTIC FAN STAND VFiled March 14, 1942 2 SheeLS-S-heei". 2

Inventor @Awa y Gttorneq Patented Feb. 9, 1943 PLASTIC FAN STAND 'AureaF. Fmi, cincinnati, omo, assignmw William W.k Welch, Cincinnati, OhioApplication Maren 14, 1942, serial No. 434,149

(ci. 23o- 259) 14 Claims.

This invention relates to a fan stand assembly and Amore particularly tothe stand structure per se.

This application my copending application Serial No. 403,702 led July23, 1941, for Plastic fan stand.

An object of this invention is to provide a standfor an electric fanthat is made from a plurality of units molded from plastic moldingmaterial.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fan stand made from aplurality of stacked molded pieces.V y.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plurality of moldedmembers forming a fan guard surrounding the fan blades.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fan stand having aderlecting cone wherein the deilecting cone forms an interlocking memberfor holding parts together.

Another object of this -invention is to provide a molded base forsupporting the electric motor and for supporting the guard assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a molded base for the fanstand, wherein Vthe guard may be removed from the base without theremoval of the electric motor supported thereon. Another object of. thisinvention is to provide a base having clearance for the iiow of the airlstream propelled by the electric fan.

Another object of this invention is to provide a base that supports theelectrical equipment independentlyof the guard assembly and the deiiecting cone.

Another object of this invention is to provide relates to the disclosurein a base provided with ornamentation, wherein the ornamentationharmonizes with the appearance of the balance of the fan stand. j

Another object of this invention is to provide a molded base-functioning as a support for the electric motor, which base is providedwith clearance for the circulation of air, said base being provided witha support for the speed control coil.

Other objects and advantagesk reside in the construction of parts,the'combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become moreapparent from the following description.

In the drawings,

Figure l discloses a perspective view of the fan stand assembly, withparts broken away for the sake of clearance.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the stand assembly shownin Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of one of the rings or hoops use'dln the isnassembly shown in Fl'gures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the 'lineI-llofFlgureZi.

Figure l5 is a perspective view of the base, drawn to a smaller scalethan that used in Figures1to4. l l 'A Figure 6 isa side elevational viewof the base.' with parts broken away andthe electric fan and its motormounted thereon. f

Figure 'l is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantiallyl onthe `linee |-1 of Figure 6.' Figure 'l is drawn to a larger scale'thanFigure 6. y

Figure 8 is an.enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view takensubstantially on the lin r8--8 of Figure 6. k

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken substantially on the line9-,9 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is an enlargedfragmentary view of A the juncture ,between thetop deflecting cone and a few of the rings or hoops, as shown near the'top of Figure 2. i

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a spacer.

In the fan stand assembly shown in the above identified copendingapplication vfor United States Letters Patent Serial No. 403,702, a baseis used, which base forms practically a solid bottom 'underlying the'guard assembly and the motor. In order to provide proper clearance'vfor the free flow of air to be circulated by the fan,

another base has been provided for this guard assembly, as will appearmore fully from .the description of the fan stand assembly'that follows.

'Ihis base supports the motor and theelectrical controls independentlyof the guard assem-l bly, the deflectlng cone andthe top, so thatthemotor and the electrical equipment may be assembled on the base as acomplete unit. After the motor and the electrical controls therefor havebeen mounted in position, the guard assembly, the deilecting cone andthe top may be mounted in position on the base. Inthe event it is foundnecessary to service the motor and the electrical controls, theguardpthe deilecting cone and the topmay be removed as a unit/from 'thebase, leaving the motor and the electrical controis exposed for service,as will appear more fully from the detailed description that-follows.However', before describingthe base, a `brief description will be madeof the guard assembly, the deiiecting cone and the top. i

Referring to the drawings, the reference character Il) indicates a tabletop.. In the preferred embodiment this table top is substantially round.

It has been shown round for thepurpose of illustration; but it could beoval, rectangular, square, polygonal or any other suitable shape. Themargins Ilav are curved downwardly and are somewhat thicker than themain body portion, so as to give the table top rigidity. At spacedintervals the table top is provided with hollow bosses Ib. Furthermore,the under side may be reenforced by ribs or flanges, ii.' so desired.When a three legged base is used, the top is preferably provided withthree bosses, as will appear more fully later.

A cone member I I is mounted underneath the top III. This cone isprovided with a peripheral lip IIa, snugly seated within the marginalbead lua of the top I0. The cone is also provided with a plurality ofpairs of bosses IIb, which will be described more fully later.

When a round table top is used, the guard as-'A sembly includes aplurality of hoops or rings I2. These rings are preferably tear-dropshaped in cross sectional area. Furthermore, the longitudinal axis ofthe transverse cross sectional area is aligned with the generaldirection of air currents emerging from the fan blades I4, which will bedescribed more fully later. 'Ihis has been done to reduce the airresistance.- Each of the rings is provided with a plurality of spacingand supporting bosses or projections I9. These bosses I6 are located inspaced relation from the margins of the rings I2. The cross sectionalarea. of these bosses is substantially tear-shaped, again, to reduceresistance to air currents. The longitudinal axis of eachprojection issubstantially radially disposedwith respect to the fan blades. Each ofthe bosses I6 is provided with a hole or aperture I8, through whichextend retaining bolts or rods 29 'and 2I.

The four hoops lying above the neutral plane of the fan blades arepositioned so as to accommodate the air stream directed upwardlyl andoutwardly, so as to have a substantially conical pattern. 'I'he hoopsbelow the plane of thefan have been reversed, so as to provide lowresistance to the air currents drawn upwardly towards the fan. 'Iheupper hoops and the lower hoops are identical, as far as the shape isconassembly. The base or annular portion 42 is supported upon aplurality of radially disposed downwardly looped leg portions,terminating in upwardly directed guard supporting portions, said legportions including a downwardly extending portion 60 merging into a flatfloor engaging base portion 62 terminating in an upwardly directedchannel portion 64, provided with suitable ea'rs 66, forming supportsfor the projections. IG of the hoops. I2. Each ear 6B is provided with asuitable opening 68 registering with the apertures I8 in the hoops I2. Apair of flanges 61, integral with the upwardly extending portion 60,provide reeniorcing supports for the ears 66. In order to reenforce eachleg portion 6I! and the dat base portion 62, these have been 'providedwith radially disposed ribs 10, which,

cerned; but the angle of inclination of the upper A hoops is opposite tothe angle of inclination of the lower hoops. This permits identicalhoops being utilized above and below the fan blades. By thisarrangement, the efciency of the fan is increased, without increasingthe cost of the fan stand assembly. As a matter of fact, it is cheaperto use the same type of hoops above and below the plane of the fan thanit would be to use diierent types of hoops,V in that the same molds maybe used in molding all of the hoops.

In` the preferred embodiment eleven (ll) rings I2 have been used. Eachring is provided with six bosses or projections I6 arranged in pairs,there being three equally spaced pairs of bosses. There is one pair ofbosses for each leg of the base. If a, four legged base is used, therewould preferably be four pairs of bosses IB.

The rings I2, forming the guard for the fan blades I4, are supportedupon a base 4I). The base 40includes a centrally disposed annular,motor'supporting base or annular portion 42. This centrally disposedmotor supporting base 42 is provided with a plurality of holes 44'receiving retaining bolts 46, having mounted thereon rubber snubbers 48for bolting the motor 50 in position. The snubbers absorb motorvibrations. so as to eliminate these from the fan stand for convenience,have been arranged in pairs, there being one pair foreach leg portion.The upper portion of the channel-shaped upwardly directed support 64 isprovided with an upwardly directed arcuate flange 12, projecting underthe lower ring or hoop I2, so as to eliminate light beams passingbetween the lower hoop and the top of the upwardly directed portion 60.

One of the upwardly directed channel portions 64 has been provided withan aperture Il receiving a stubshaft 92 of a switch contacting severalterminals of a coil A84, which coil is held in position by suitablescrews 86 in the side of one channel portion 64. Thel coil 84 isprovided with suitable taps for varying .the speed of the motor, as iswell known to those skilled in the art. The radially disposed downwardlylooped leg portions are arranged to provide an air circulatm passagebetween the downwardly extending portion 90, the base portion 52 and theupwardly directed portion 64. This permits the free flow of air from thefloor upwardly through the fan and outwardly through the upper hoops.

The stub shaft 82. supports a suitable control knob or switch button 90.having suitable indicia thereon for indicating the various speeds andthe "o" position. From this it may be clearly seen that the motor, theswitch, the coil 84 and all electrical parts are supported on the base49, independently of the guard assembly, the deilecting cone and thetop.

Method of assembly The motor, the coil and the switch are assembled onthe base so as to form a unit consisting of the base, the electric fanand the controls' therefor. The cone'member Il and the hoops I2 areassembled and three rods 29 passed through registering apertures in thehoops and in the bosses of the cone member. There is preferably one boltfor each pair of bosses corresponding to leg portions oi the base. Thesebolts may be extended through the apertures in the corresponding ears inthe base portion and secured in position by suitable nuts 92 and 94.'I'he upper nut 92, as shown in Figure 10, is preferably some type ofnut made from spring metal and adapted to be pushed into position. Whenseated in position, it locks itself, so that it cannot be removedwithout unscrewing. The lower nut 94 may be any conventional nut,threadedly engaging the lower end of the bolt 20. T'hese three bolts,one

for each of the leg portions, cooperate to hold the base, thehoops andthe cone member together as a sub-assembly. The top, which is providedwith three equally spaced bosses, is then mounted in position with theapertures in the Nuts 94 are placed on the bottom of the bolts.

The bolts 20 and 2| are used in holding the assembly together, three ofwhich engage the top and the other three only hold the cone, hoops and'base together,

As explained above, in the event it is lfound necessary to service themotor or any of the electrical parts, or to tighten, adjust or replacethe fan blades, this may be done by merely removing the nuts engagingthe ends of the bolts 20,- lifting the hoops and the parts supportedthereby away from the base, leaving the electrical parts, together withthe fan, exposed for service.

As far as the shape of the hoops, the arrangement of the defiecting coneand the top is `concerned, this is immaterial, as far as the baseassembly is concerned.

In order to increase the eiilciency of the fan assembly, it may bedesirable to increase the space between one or more pairs of hoops. s asto increase the air passage to thereby increase the ow of air current.In Figure l1 a tearshaped spacer |00 of substantially the same shape asthe extensions I0 has been shown. This spacer is constructed to bemounted in registry with selected extensions or projections I6. Thiserally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objectsset forth, as disclosed and delined in the appended claims.

vHaving thus described my invention, I daim; l. A base for a fan standassembly having a motor and a 'guard consisting of a stack of hoops,

` said base including la centrally disposed annular motor supportingportion, said motor upporting I portion having a plurality of equallypaced leg portions integral therewith, each of said leg portions merginginto a floor engaging portion being radially disposed with respect tosaid annular portion and terminating in an upwardly directed channelportion forming a support for the hoops,- said upwardly directed channelportion being arranged in spaced relation from the motor supportingportion so as to form an air circulating passage.

2. A base for a fan stand assembly having a motor and a guard consistingof a stack of hoops, said base including a centrally disposed annularmotor supporting portion, said motor supporting portion being Aprovidedwith radially disposed downwardly looped leg portions terminating in anupwardly directed guard supporting portion arranged in spaced relationfrom the motor supspacer is provided with an aperture |02 registeringwith the apertures through the projections Due to the fact thatthespacer |00 is not secured to one of the hoops, it has been provided witha stud-like boss |04 adapted to be inserted in a recess in the adjacentprojection I6. This stud-like boss |04 cooperates with the rod 20 or 2|,as the case may be, to hold the spacer |00 aligned with the adjacenttear-shaped projection I6. In the manufacture of the rings, each of theprojections I6 is preferably provided with a recess adapted to receivethe stud-like boss |04. By this arrangement it is not necessary toprepare the hoops adjacent the spacers in` a special manner, as forexample, by drilling holes, in that if all of the hoops are providedwith such holes, then any hoop may be used in association with thespacer. There areas many spacers as pro- `iections I6 on one hoop. Ifeach hoop contains 6 projections, 6 spacers may be used.

For most purposes spacers will be placed only between t-wo adjacentrings, which rings are positioned at the location of maximum air intake.

the top of the assembly, the spacers are placed.

between the fourth and fifth hoops. If the maximum intake is between thethird and fourth hoops, the spacers would be placed there. If themaximum intake is found at some other position throughout the height ofthe guard, the spacers are inserted atsuch a position. The use of thespacers is optional, depending entirely upon the eficiency of theassembly and the function thereof,

Although the preferred modification of the devic'e has been disclosed,it will be understood that within the y purview of this inventionvarious changes may be made in the form, details,'pro portionandarrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation,which genporting portion so as to provide an air circulating pasage.

3. A base for a fan stand assembly having a motor and a guard consistingof a stack of hoops, said base including a centrally disposed annular`motor supporting portion, said motor supporting portion being providedwith radially disposed downwardly looped leg portions terminating in anupwardly directed channel portion provided with a pair of ears forsupporting the guard, said ears being arranged in spaced relation fromthe annular motor supporting portion so as to provide an air circulatingpassage.

4. In a fan stand assembly, the combination of a top and a guardassembly consisting of a. plurality of hoops stacked upon each other andheld in aligned relation by retaining means, withr a base having a motorsupporting portion for.

supporting the electric motor of a, fan, said base portion including aplurality of downwardly disposed leg portions terminating in upwardlydirected guard portions, and means for removably attaching the 'guardassembly and the top to said upwardly directed portions, said guardassembly being removably mounted to permit servicing of the motorwithout disconnecting the motor from the base.

5. In a fan stand assembly, the combination of a top and a guardassembly consisting of a plurality of hoops stacked upon each other andheldin aligned relation by retaining means, with a base including anannular portion for supporting the motor in spaced relation from theoor, said annular portion being integral with a plurality of downwardlydisposed looped portions,

each of said looped portions including a downwardly directed portionextending from the base merging into a radially disposed floor engagingmotor supportingbase, said' motor supporting base including an annularportion arranged in spaced relation from the oor, said annular lportionsupporting an electric motor, a plurality of downwardly extending legportions integral with said annular portion, said leg portions merginginto radially disposed oor engaging portions terminating in upwardlydirected guard supporting portions, said guard supporting portionsincluding ears for removably supporting the guard assembly, and meansfor removably attaching the guard assembly to said ears-so as to permitremoval of the guard assembly from the base without removal of the motorfor servicing the motor;

7. In a fan stand assembly, the combination of a top and a guardassembly consisting of a plurality of hoops stacked upon each other andheld in aligned relation by retaining means, with a base for supportingthe electric fan and the guard assembly, said base including a motorsupporting portion having mounted thereon a motor for the fan, saidmotor supporting portion merging into a plurality of equally spaced legportions extending downwardly so as to support the motor supportingportion in spaced relation -from the floor, said downwardly extending'leg portions being provided with reenforcing ribs and merging into aribbed base portion terminating in an upwardly directed guard supportingportion for removably supporting the guard assembly, and means forremovably attaching. the guard assembly to said upwardlyl directedportions to permit the removal of the guard assembly from the baseportion without the removal of the motor to permit servicing of themotor while mounted on the base portion. A

8. In a fan stand assembly, the combination of a top and a guardassembly consisting of a pluralityv of hoops stacked upon each other andheld in aligned relation by retaining means, with a supporting baseincluding a motor supporting portion arranged in spaced relation-fromthe oor for supporting the electric motor, and a plurality of legsintegral with the motor supporting portion, each of said legs beingdirected downwardly for engagement with the oor so as to support themotor in spaced relation from the floor, said legs including a guardassembly supporting portion, the legs being provided with air passagesfor the flow of air upwardly around the motor.

9. In a fan stand assembly, the combination of a top and a guardassembly consisting of a,plu rality of hoops stacked upon each other andheld in aligned relation by retaining means, with a motor supportingbase, said motor Supporting base including an annular portion arrangedin spaced relation from the floor, said annular portion supporting anelectric motor, a plurality of downwardly extending leg portionsintegral with said annular portion,l said leg portions merging intoradially disposed iloor engaging portions terminating in upwardlydirected guard supporting portions, said guard supporting portionsincluding ears for removably supporting the guard assembly, means forremovably attaching the guard assembly to said ears so as to permitremoval of the guard assembly from the base without removal of the motorfor servicing the same, and switching means for controlling the motormounted upon the upwardly directed guard supporting portion of one ofthe legs.

10. A fan stand assembly including an annular top member having anarcuate marginal portion terminating in a bead-like ring, a plurality ofbosses including threaded inserts embedded therein, a plurality of hoopsstacked upon each other and forming a support for the top, said hoopshaving aligned projections provided with apertures registering with eachother and some of the apertures registeringwith the threaded insert inthe top, said projections on the hoops being arranged in spaced relationfrom the outer margin o1' the hoops so as to be partially concealedthereby, a base assembly provided with supporting means for rsupportingthe hoops, said base assembly having apertures registering with theapertures in the projections, and retaining means extending through the'apertures and threadedlyengaging the threaded inserts in the bosses forholding the assembly together as a unit.

ll. A fan stand assembly including an annular top member having anarcuate marginal portion terminating in a beadlike ring, a plurality ofbosses including threaded inserts embedded therein, a conical membermounted underneath the top, said conical member having `a bead-likemarginal portion nestled underneath the arcuate marginal portion of thetop, said conical member having a plurality of apertured bosses, some ofwhich bosses register with the bosses on the top member, a plurality ofhoops stacked upon each other and forming a support for the conicalmember and the top, said hoops having aligned projections provided withapertures registering with each other and some of the aperturesregistering with the threaded insert in the top, said projections on thehoops being arranged in spaced relation from the` outer margin of thehoops so as to be partially concealed thereby, a base assembly providedwith supporting means for supporting vthe hoops, said base assemblyhaving apertures registering with the apertures in the projections, andretaining means extending through the apertures and threadedly engagingthe threaded inserts in the bosses for holding the assembly together asa unit.

12. A fan stand assembly including an annular top member having anarcuate marginal portion terminating in a bead-like ring, a plurality ofbosses including threaded inserts embedded therein, a conical membermounted underneath the top, said conical member having a bead-likemarginal portion nestled underneath the arcuate marginal portion of thetop, said conical member having a plurality of apertured bosses, some ofwhich register with the bosses on the top member, a plurality of hoopsstacked upon each other and forming a support for the conical member andthe top, said hoops having aligned projections provided with aperturesregistering 4with each other and some of the apertures registering withthe threaded inserts in the top, said projections on the hoops beingarranged in spaced relation from the outer margin of the hoops so as tobe partially concealed thereby, a base assembly provided with supportingmeans for supporting the hoops, said base assembly having aperturesregistering with the apertures in the projections, and a plurality ofretaining rods some of which threadedly engage the inserts in the bossesof the top for holding the top, cone, hoops and base in a unitarystructure and the remaining rods extending through the remainingapertures in the cone, hoops and base for holding the cone, hoops andbase as a unitary structure.

13. A fan stand assembly including an annular top member having anarcuate marginal portion terminating in a bead-like ring, a plurality ofbosses including threaded inserts embedded therein, a plurality of hoopsstacked upon each other and forming a support for the top, said hoopshaving aligned projections provided with apertures registering with eachother and some of the apertures registering with the threaded inserts inthe top, said projections on the hoops being arranged in spaced relationfrom the outer margin of the hoops so as to be partially concealedthereby, said hoops having a substantially tear-drop shaped crosssectional area with the longitudinal axis ofthe cross sectional areaforming an acute angle with the maximum diameter of the hoops, some ofthe hoops having the longitudinal axis extending substantially parallelto corresponding elements of the conical member, the remaining hoopsbeing iriverted, a base assembly provided with supporting means forsupporting the hoops, said base assembly having apertures registeringwith the apertures in the projections, and retaining means extendingthrough the apertures and threadedly engaging the threaded inserts inthe bosses for holding the assembly together as a unit.

14. A fan stand assembly including an annular top member having anarcuate marginal portion terminating in a bead-like ring, a plurality ofbosses including threaded inserts embedded therein, a conical membermounted underneath soy , the top, said conical member having a bead-likemarginal portion nestled underneath the arcuate marginal portion of thetop, said conical member having a plurality of apertured bosses, some ofwhich register with the bosses on the top member, a, plurality of hoopsstacked upon each other and forming a support for the conical member andthe top, said hoops having aligned projections provided with aperturesregistering with each other and some of the apertures registering withthe threaded inserts in the top, said projections on the hoops beingarranged in spaced relation from the outer margin of the hoops so as tobe partially concealed thereby,

said hoops vhaving a substantially tear-dropv with supporting means forsupporting the hoops,

said base assembly having apertures registering with the apertures inthe projections, and retaining means extending through the apertures andthreadedly engaging the threaded inserts in the bosses for holding theassembly together as a unit.

ALFRED F. FUKAL.

